Keyboard control means

ABSTRACT

A cash register or other business machine keyboard having at least two key rows and including a device for preventing and permitting, respectively, depression of the keys, said device comprising a blocking slide arranged in a first of the key rows and at least one blocking link in the second row, both the slide and the link each being movable to two respective positions. The slide is provided with first and second sets of non-blocking parts which respectively permit the keys in the first and second rows to be depressed. When the blocking slide is in a given position, at least one of the keys in the key rows can be depressed by the non-blocking parts while the other keys are prevented from being depressed by the blocking parts of the blocking side.

United States Patent Mattsson et al.

[ Ju|y4,l972

[54] KEYBOARD CONTROL MEANS [72] inventors: Mats Erik Mattsson, Sollentuna; Bjorn Sven Hilding Eriksson, Jakobsberg; Claes- Goran Lindelow, Taby, all of Sweden [73] Assignee: Svenska Dataregister AB, Solna, Sweden [22] Filed: April 20, 1970 [2]] Appl. No.: 30,200

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data April 29, 1969 Sweden ..6052/69 52 us. Cl. ..235/26, 235/60 R 51 1 im. Cl. ..G06c 7 04, G06C 25/00 [58] Field of Search ..235/26, 60.49, 60 TK, 60 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,263,916 Baldus et al ..235/60 R Primary ExaminerStephen J. Tomsky Attorney-Norman Friedman, Stephen E. Feldman, Morris l. Pollack, Arthur T. Groeninger and Phillip Furgang [57] ABSTRACT A cash register or other business machine keyboard having at least two key rows and including a device for preventing and permitting, respectively, depression of the keys, said device comprising a blocking slide arranged in a first ofthe key rows and at least one blocking link in the second row, both the slide and the link each being movable to two respective positions. The slide is provided with first and second sets of nonblocking parts which respectively permit the keys in the first and second rows to be depressed. When the blocking slide is in a given position, at least one of the keys in the key rows can be depressed by the non-blocking parts while the other keys are prevented from being depressed by the blocking parts of the blocking side.

14 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure 1 KEYBOARD CONTROL MEANS The present invention relates to a device for preventing and permitting, respectively, depression of keys positioned in the keyboard of a cash register or a similar business machine, which keys are arranged in at least two key rows.

Such earlier known devices are of a complicated construction with a plurality of details, which causes that the manufacturing costs will be too heavy and that the length of life and reliability will be small. .They usually consist of a number of horizontal slides with their short edges up and being provided with recesses. When these slides take up certain positions they block one or several keys against depression and when recesses are positioned directly below the keys these keys can be depressed. For instance, if the transaction banks (selector banks) in a cash register include a plurality of such slides and if these are coupled to one slide each in the mode of operation bank of the cash register this means that a plurality of slides must be arranged in the mode of operation bank in order to obtain the intended function, i.e. blocking of the keys between the transaction banks and the mode of operation bank. In case a mutual blocking of the keys in the mode of operation bank is necessary, additional means, usually in the form of slides provided with recesses, must be arranged therein.

The disadvantages that the earlier known devices are impaired with are eliminated by the device according to the present invention since the invention comprises the characteristics stated in the claims.

Further characteristics of and purposes with the invention will appear from the following specification in connection with the appended drawing whose FIGURE shows a perspective view of the device according to the invention.

In the FIGURE there are shown four keys, 2, 4, 6 and 8 arranged in the keyboard of a cash register. Key 2 is arranged in the left of the two selector banks in the cash register, key 4 is arranged in the right selector bank, and keys 6 and 8 are arranged in the mode of operation bank in the cash register. Keys 2, 4, 6 and 8 are guided for upwards and downwards movement in recesses in a lower keyboard plate 10 and affect, during depression, with their lower edges totalizer setting means, such as differentially settable racks (not shown). Key 2, which is a department key, is provided with a protrusion 2a which cooperates with a group slide 12 via protrusion 2a will affect the oblique surface 12a whereby group slide 12 receives a movement backwards, i.e. to the right in the figure. Key 4, which is a refund key, is provided with a protrusion 4a which cooperates with an oblique surface 14a on a group slide 14. Thus during depression of key 4 group slide 14 will be moved backwards in the cash register. Group slides 12 and 14 bear against the lower keyboard plate 10 and cooperate with group links 16 and 18, via protrusions 12b and 14b on the group slides. Group links 16 and 18 are tumably supported in dovetail formed recesses in two supporting plates 20 and 22 fixed to keyboard plate 10. Group links 16 and 18 cooperate with blocking links 24 and 26 via protrusions 24a and 260 which are formed on these and directed downwards.- Blocking links 24 and 26 are in their front ends supported in a bracket 28, which is provided with recesses 28a and 28b, the bracket 28 being fixed to keyboard plate 10. A guiding plate 30, provided with slots, is fastened to keyboard plate 10 by screws 32 and 34, via spacing collars 36. Thus, the back ends of blocking links 24 and 26 are guided for horizontal reciprocal movement in guiding plate 30 by means of recesses 24b and 26b formed in the blocking links, and blocking links 24 and 26 are in their front ends guided in recesses 28a and 28b in bracket 28. Blocking links 24 and 26 are in their upper, back ends pro-, vided with recesses 24c and 260 wherein the upper parts 38a and 400 on blocking arms 38 and 40 are positioned. Blocking arm 38 is tumably supported on a shaft 42 fixed to the opposite sides of bracket 28, and blocking arm 40 is rotatably supported on shaft 44 which is also fixed to the opposite sides of bracket 28.

A blocking slide 46 bears against the upper surface of the lower keyboard plate 10 in the mode of operation bank of the cash register. Blocking slide 46 is guided for longitudinal, horizontal movement partly between the back parts (one is shown, 28c) directed downwards on bracket 28, partly between guiding pins 48 and 50 fixed in keyboard plate 10 and extending through recesses 16a and 18a in group links 16 and 18 and through recesses 6b and 8b in keys 6 and 8. Blocking slide 46 is coupled to a vertical link 52 via arm 460 on blocking slide 46, and vertical link 52 is in its upper end provided with a key 54 which is accessible for the operator of the cash register. By moving key 54 forward blocking slide 46 receives a longitudinal movement forwards in the figure and if the key is moved backwards blocking slide receives a movement backwards in the figure.

Key 54 and thereby link 52 and blocking slide 46 can be set to eleven different positions. Key 54 normally takes up an intermediate position, which represents that an accumulation operation will be performed when any of keys 2 or 4 is depressed (negative accumulation, i.e. subtraction, during depression of key 4). In this intermediate position it is also possible to take a total of the itemizer of the cash register (not shown) by depressing key 8. When key 54 is moved to any one of the five positions positioned forward in the cash register, certain of the totalizers in the cash register will be read when any of keys 2, 4, 6 or 8 is depressed if this can be performed and when the key is moved to any one of the five positions which are positioned backwards in the cash register, certain of the totalizers in the cash register will be zeroized when any one of the mention keys is depressed if this can be performed. Key 54 is normally blocked against movement and can be moved from its intermediate position only under certain conditions. Link 52 is also coupled to totalizer controlling means (not shown) which control coupling and uncoupling, respectively, of the different totalizers during accumulation zeroizing and reading operations according to the setting of key 54.

Blocking slide 46 is provided with holes, and indicated markings of holes which constitute two sets. The first set of holes and indicated markings of holes are arranged in two rows on the back part of the blocking slide 46. As is apparent there is one hole and ten indicated'markings of holes in each of these rows. The second set of holes and indicated markings of holes is also arranged in two rows. Each row in the second set includes three holes and eight indicated markings of holes. As is apparent the two rows of holes or indicated markings of holes in the first set are substantially displaced in relation to each other along blocking slide 46 and the two rows of holes and indicated markings of holes in the second set are somewhat dislocated in relation to each other along blocking slide 46 by reasons which will appear below.

Thus, the first set of holes and indicated markings of holes is exclusively intended to perform blocking or releasing of keys in the mode of operation bank in the cash register, and the second set of holes and indicated markings of holes is exclusively intended to perform blocking or releasing of keys in the selector banks of the cash register. By this arrangement you obtain the great advantage that one single means, i.e. blocking slide 46, can perform blocking and releasing of keys positioned in more than one bank, i.e. keys in the selector banks as well as in the mode of operation banks.

Key 6, which is a grand totalizer key, is provided with a protrusion 6a arranged to cooperate with one row in the first set of holes and indicated markings of holes on blocking slide 46. Key 8, which is the total key, is provided with a protrusion 8a arranged to cooperate with the second row in the first set of holes and indicated markings of holes on blocking slide 46. As mentioned above blocking slide 46 is in each row provided with 11 holes of indicated markings of holes and is thus displacable to 11 difierent positions. In certain of these positions it shall be possible to depress one or several of keys 2, 4, 6 or 8 while the other keys shall be prevented from being depressed, and in certain other positions it shall be possible to depress one or several of other keys 2, 4, 6 or 8 while the remaining keys are prevented from depression. While blocking slide 46 is in the position shown in the figure which position represents a certain reading operation it is only possible to depress key 2. During depression of key 2 group slide 12 is moved backwards in the cash register whereby group link 16 is turned clockwise and affects protrusion 240 so that even blocking link 24 is moved backwards. Thereby, blocking arm 28 will be rotated clockwise on shaft 42 whereby the hookshaped, lower part 38b of the blocking arm is moved downwards into hole a" in one of the rows in the second set of holes and indicated markings of holes. In this position of blocking slide 46 key 4 can not be depressed since hookshaped lower part 40b of blocking arm 40 is positioned directly above an indicated marking of hole r and not above a hole. When trying to depress key 4 its protrusion 4a strives to move group slide 14 backwards in the cash register and the group slide strives to turn group link 18 clockwise, which strives to move blocking link 26 backwards, which strives to turn arm 40 clockwise around shaft 44. The clockwise movement of arm 40 however is prevented as the hookshaped part 40b will contact the upper surface of blocking slide 46 and key 4 is thereby prevented from being depressed. When blocking slide 46 is in this position it is not possible to depress any of mode of operation keys 6 or 8 either, since their protrusions 6a and 8a are positioned directly above indicated markings of holes s and 2" and not directly above a hole. If blocking slide 46, when affected by key 54, is removed from the position in the figure five steps backwards in the cash register which position represents that accumulation shall be performed in the totalizers of the cash register holes b and c" in the second set of holes and indicated markings of holes will be positioned directly below the hookshaped pans 40b and 38b of blocking arms 40 and 38. Thus, in this position it is impossible for key 2 as well as for key 4 to be depressed into holes in the second set of holes and indicated markings of holes. When blocking slide 46 is in the last mentioned position hole d will be positioned directly below protrusion 8a whereby key 8 can be depressed, while indicated marking of hole 11" will be positioned directly below protrusion a and thereby preventing key 6 from being depressed.

When hookshaped, lower parts 38b, 40b of one or both blocking arms 38, 40 are positioned in holes it is in spite of that possible to remove key 54 and thereby link 52 and blocking slide 46 in any direction to any one of the eleven positions provided that the link is not blocked against movement, and that each key 2, 4, 6 and 8 has been restored to its not depressed position. This is made possible since the hookshaped lower parts 38b, 40b partly are positioned at optimum distances in relation to their centers of oscillation (shafts 42, 44), partly are shaped with two lower surfaces positioned in a certain determined angle to each other.

As blocking slide 46 can take up eleven positions it is possible to obtain a plurality of combinations where different keys are allowed to or prevented from being depressed. In order to visualize the present invention, the four keys 2, 4, 6 and 8 for departments, repayment, grand total taking and total taking have been chosen. How these keys are blocked in relation to each other has above been described at two of the eleven positions of blocking slide 46. In the remaining positions of blocking slide 46, five of which are used when the totalizers of the cash register are to be read, five of which are used when the totalizers of the cash register are to be zeroized and one of which is used when accumulation is to be performed in the totalizers of the cash register, different keys will be prevented from being depressed and other keys will be allowed to be depressed as is apparent from the figure and therefore a more detailed description of this is unnecessary. It is apparent for a person skilled in the art how department keys, repayment keys, grand total keys and total keys are to be blocked against depression in relation to each other at different modes of operation in order to obtain a reliable registration. As is apparent from the above, four keys have been chosen in order to visualize the present invention. It is however, possible to arrange less or more keys in the selector banks and the mode of operation bank in the keyboard of the cash register. If, for instance several keys are arranged in the same selector bank which keys represent different categories, i.e. the keys, when depressed, affect the grand totalizer (not shown) of the cash register to take up different positions in relation to the differentially settable racks (not shown) a group slide is arranged for each category in the same bank. These group slides then affect one group link, one blocking link and one blocking arm each. As is apparent from the figure (see the recesses in bracket 28 and the slits in guiding plate 30) maximally six blocking links and thereby maximally six group slides can be arranged for the two selector banks. Thus, in the last mentioned case six rows in the second set of holes and indicated markings of holes will be arrangedon blocking slide 46. In order to pemiit these six rows to be positioned on blocking slide 46, with maintenance of its width as small as possible, the holes and the indicated markings of holes are in each row displaced in relation to the holes and the indicated markings of holes in the adjacent row. Owing to this, also a better space for the blocking arms is obtained. It is also possible to permit more than one key to affect one group slide in each key row. This is done when several keys operate in the same way, i.e. initiate the same kind of machine operations, with the exception that depression of one key initiates coupling of a certain totalizer and depression of another key initiates coupling of another totalizer.

The first set of holes and indicated markings of holes can be arranged in three rows essentially displaced in relation to each other along blocking slide 46 in order to permit up to nine keys to affect it. Blocking slide 46 is in the figure moved to its fromt position. It is not possible to move blocking slide 46 any further forwards as the movement of link 52 forwards is limited by a protrusion 10a on the lower keyboard plate 10. An additional protrusion (not shown) corresponding to protrusion 10a is arranged on the lower keyboard plate 10. An additional protrusion (not shown) corresponding to protrusion 10a is arranged on the other side of link 52 in order to limit its movement backwards ten steps from the position shown in the figure. It is to be mentioned that blocking slide 46 is provided with indicated markings of holes in the form of, for example, punch marks, already during the manufacturing of the blocking slide. Thereafter, when the number of keys and their placing on the keyboard of the cash register have been decided, holes can be drilled on the locations where they are desired on blocking slide 46 with the indicated markings of holes as references. This makes it possible for, for example, a retail dealer to program blocking slide 46 by himself in a simple way when he has decided the system of a cash register, i.e. the number of keys and the necessary blockings between them. In order to permit that a possible later reprogramming can be performed, i.e. the placing and number of the keys and the blockings between them, can be changed, blocking slide 46 can easily be substituted by a blocking slide with another number of holes or another positioning of holes after the first mentioned blocking slide has been removed from the cash register. Also group slides l2, l4, blocking links 24, 26 and blocking arms 38, 40 can easily be removed, by exchanged or be completed with additional group slides, blocking links, etc.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the above described embodiment but only by the scope of the appended claims. Thus, for example, instead of holes a-d, recesses can be formed along the edges of blocking slide 46. In this case however, it is only possible to arrange two rows of holes and indicated markings of holes in each set.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a device for preventing and permitting, respectively, depression of keys positioned in the keyboard of a business machine, having keys arranged in at least two key rows, comp g a blocking slide arranged in a first of the key rows,

at least one blocking link in a second key row, which is movable to take up two positions,

wherein the blocking slide is movable to take up at least two positions independently of the blocking link and is provided with a first set of non-blocking parts provided in order to permit the keys in said first key row to be depressed, a second set of non-blocking parts which are provided in order to permit keys which are arranged in said second key row to be depressed, whereby when the blocking slide is in certain predetermined positions, at least one of the keys in the key rows can be depressed via the non-blocking parts while the other keys are prevented from being depressed by blocking parts of the blocking slide.

2. in the device of claim 1', wherein the non blocking parts comprise means forming holes or recesses in the blocking slide.

3. In the device of claim 1 wherein the first set of non blocking parts is arranged in at least one row.

4. ln the device of claim 1, wherein the second set of non blocking parts are arranged in rows whose number corresponds to a number of key group.

5. in the device of claim 1, wherein the second set of non blocking parts are arranged in rows whose number corresponds to the number of key rows except in the key row in which the blocking slide is positioned.

6. In the device of claim 1, wherein the blocking slide is elongated and movable in longitudinal direction by manually affectable means which are accessible on the key board of a cash register. 1

7. In the device of claim 1, wherein the blocking slide is arranged in the operation bank of the cash register and that the first set of non blocking parts in certain predetermined positions of the blocking slide allow depression of at least one of operation selecting keys in a cash register while other such keys are prevented from being depressed by the blocking parts of the blocking slide.

8. In the device of claim 6, wherein operation selecting keys are provided with protrusions which, during depression of such a key, cooperate with a blocking part on the blocking slide.

9. In the device of claim 6, wherein operation selecting keys are provided with protrusions which, during depression of such a key, cooperate with a non blocking part on the blocking slide. I

10. In the device of claim 1, wherein the keys in the second key rows, which keys can be arranged in groups, are allowed to be depressed when a non blocking part on the blocking slide is positioned in the path of movement for testing means which cooperate with these keys, but are prevented from being depressed when the blocking parts of the blocking slide is positioned in the path of movement of the testing means.

1 1. In the device of claim 10, wherein the number of testing means is similar to the number of keys rows, and that the testing means cooperate with the second set of non blocking parts on the blocking slide, and that each testing means includes a rotatable arm, which is coupled to at least one key in such a key row via a link system including the blocking links.

12. In the device of claim 11, wherein the arm is rotatably arranged on a shaft and is provided with a part which is intended to contact a blocking part on the blocking slide.

13. In the device of claim 11, wherein the arm is rotatably arranged on a shaft and is provided with a part which is intended to be moved down in a non blocking part.

14. In the device of claim 1, wherein the second key row consists of the selector banks of a cash register. 

1. In a device for preventing and permitting, respectively, depression of keys positioned in the keyboard of a business machine, having keys arranged in at least two key rows, comprising, a blocking slide arranged in a first of the key rows, at least one blocking link in a second key row, which is movable to take up two positions, wherein the blocking slide is movable to take up at least two positions independently of the blocking link and is provided with a first set of non-blocking parts provided in order to permit the keys in said first key row to be depressed, a second set of non-blocking parts which are provided in order to permit keys which are arranged in said second key row to be depressed, whereby when the blocking slide is in certain predetermined positions, at least one of the keys in the key rows can be depressed via the non-blocking parts while the other keys are prevented from being depressed by blocking parts of the blocking slide.
 2. In the device of claim 1, wherein the non blocking parts comprise means forming holes or recesses in the blocking slide.
 3. In the device of claim 1 wherein the first set of non blocking parts is arranged in at least one row.
 4. In the device of claim 1, wherein the second set of non blocking parts are arranged in rows whose number corresponds to a number of key group.
 5. In the device of claim 1, wherein the second set of non blocking parts are arranged in rows whose number corresponds to the number of key rows except in the key row in which the blocking slide is positioned.
 6. In the device of claim 1, wherein the blocking slide is elongated and movable in longitudinal direction by manually affectable means which are accessible on the key board of a cash register.
 7. In the device of claim 1, wherein the blocking slide is arranged in the operation bank of the cash register and that the first set of non blocking parts in certain predetermined positions of the blocking slide allow depression of at least one of operation selecting keys in a cash register while other such keys are prevented from being depressed by the blocking parts of the blocking slide.
 8. In the device of claim 6, wherein operation selecting keys are provided with protrusions which, during depression of such a key, cooperate with a blocking part on the blocking slide.
 9. In the device of claim 6, wherein operation selecting keys are provided with protrusions which, during depression of such a key, cooperate with a non blocking part on the blocking slide.
 10. In the device of claim 1, wherein the keys in the second key rows, which keys can be arranged in groups, are allowed to be depressed when a non blocking part on the blocking slide is positioned in the path of movement for testing means which cooperate with these keys, but are prevented from being depressed when the blocking parts of the blocking slide is positioned in the path of movement of the testing means.
 11. In the device of claim 10, wherein the number of testing means is similar to the number of keys rows, and that the testing means cooperate with the second set of non blocking parts on the blocking slide, and that each testing means includes a rotatable arm, which is coupled to at least one key in such a key row via a link system including the blocking links.
 12. In the device of claim 11, wherein the arm is rotatably arranged on a shaft and is provided with a part which is intended to contact a blocking part on the blocking slide.
 13. In the device of claim 11, wherein the arm is rotatably arranged on a shaft and is provided with a part which is intended to be moved down in a non blocking part.
 14. In the device of claim 1, wherein the second key row consists of the selector banks of a cash register. 